World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war involved the many of the world's countries. Two opposing military alliances were formed: the Allies and the Axis.
While Japan was already at war with China in 1937, the Second World War began on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Germany conquered much of Europe, eventually forming the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan. Approximately six million European Jews were killed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and this event would become known as the Holocaust.
Video
After the victory in Italy, the next large-scale campaign would be “Operation Overlord”: a massive allied mobilization by the Americans and the British, to drive the Germans out of France. American...
Video
With the majority of men off fighting the war overseas, women on the home-front had to step up to take on jobs that men would usually do. Most war machines and weapons, such as tanks, airplanes, and...
Video
Also known as the Battle of Anzio, Operation Shingle was an allied amphibious campaign, under command of Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, and Major General John P. Lucas. S.C. veterans remember the...
Video
With the number of casualties growing in the Italian campaign, the demand for doctors, nurses, and combat medics increased. Several veterans discuss their experiences enlisting, and what life and...
Video
Veterans of the 82nd Airborne, along with the Army’s 504th Regiment, recall their experiences fighting in the mountains of Italy. The terrain and the weather made the fight against the Germans all...
Video
Lou Fowler, a gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, recalls bailing out from his aircraft, which had suffered heavy damage from German anti-aircraft fire. After landing, he is captured by a German patrol...
Video
To prepare for the allied invasion of France, American troops boarded ships headed for Great Britain. Many soldiers feared that they would not survive the trip to England, because of the German U...
Video
The two most widely used bomber aircraft used by the U.S. in World War II were the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and the Consolidated B-24 “Liberator.” During bombing runs, the two biggest fears...
Video
The Army sent the 82nd Airborne, along with General George Patton’s armored divisions, to take the island of Sicily, off the coast of Italy. British forces also assisted the Americans in the Sicily...
